`Walsh-bashing` Could Spell Ouster Of Special Prosecutor

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Edwin Meese`s Justice Department has launched an assault on special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh`s conduct of the Iran-Contra investigation.

The bottom line could be President Reagan ordering Meese, or his deputy, to fire Walsh, similar to the 1973 political bloodletting during the Watergate scandal that toppled Richard Nixon.

Justice`s chief lobbyist, Assistant Attorney General John Bolton, has led the Walsh-bashing.

In an unprecedented public attack, Bolton recently said some legal experts believe Walsh used a ``wacko theory`` of conspiracy law to win a guilty plea by Carl ``Spitz`` Channell, who illegally claimed a tax exemption in raising money for the Contras.

Bolton also derided Walsh as a big spender. Walsh has been given $1.3 million, so far, and is paying $59,800 a month for a new downtown office building. Bolton questioned whether such a lifestyle was appropriate for a special prosecutor.

Justice may be slowly setting the stage for Walsh`s ouster. Bolton has told Senate investigators that any special prosecutor who refused to follow ``lawful direction`` from Reagan could be fired. Under Bolton`s reasoning, Reagan could, for example, demand that Walsh grant immunity from prosecution to Lt. Col. Oliver North and fire Walsh if he refused.

So far, Reagan had not sent any such orders to Walsh.

Bolton insisted last week that no president would want to sack a special prosecutor, remembering the public outcry when Nixon ordered special prosecutor Archibald Cox fired in the ``Saturday Night Massacre`` 14 years ago.

But that does not necessarily represent the thinking of other high department officials. Public interest in the Iran-Contra affair is thought to have waned in recent weeks, and it could be decided that no Watergate-style firestorm would erupt if Walsh was sacked.

There are also significant differences in the cast of characters at Justice this time around. In 1973, Attorney General Elliot Richardson, not a Nixon loyalist, quit rather than carry out Nixon`s order to fire Cox for trying to obtain Nixon`s White House tapes. Richardson`s deputy did likewise.

There is little likelihood that Meese, a longtime aide and confidante of Reagan, would defy a presidential order.

Meese`s actions as a Reagan administration official are being investigated by two special prosecutors, including Walsh. He has had many roles in the Iran-Contra affair, which make his interest in Walsh`s job security more than academic. Meese was Reagan`s legal adviser on the arms sales. He stopped a key FBI Iran-Contra probe at North`s suggestion and later ``investigated`` North without calling in the FBI for several crucial days. Walsh is interested in all of that.